If Bills go before 2020, owner could go to jail

The monopoly that is the NFL has something very tangible in common with the game of the same name.

In Buffalo, the Bills lease contains a provision that could result in a future owner going to jail. In theory.

As explained by the Buffalo News, the team’s lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium includes a non-relocation agreement that allows the county or the state to obtain a court order blocking a move before the narrow window to relocate opens after the 2019 season. If a court order blocking a move is granted and if the team’s owner tries to move despite the order, the owner could be jailed for contempt of court.

It would never get to that. The NFL wouldn’t approve a move of the franchise if doing so would violate the team’s lease.

As the Buffalo News points out, a $28.4 million escape clause still applies in 2020. It means the team definitely will remain in Buffalo for at least six more years.

Which buys the powers-that-be well over 2,020 days to come up with a way to persuade the next owner to choose to not to, come 2020, make like a tree and get out of Western New York.

47 responses to “If Bills go before 2020, owner could go to jail”

I really hope that if the Bills do get sold to an owner who wants to move them, that the former AFL teams band together to block any vote to move them. LA or Toronto are front running, bandwagon towns who will never support a NFL team like the people of Buffalo.

this bills aren’t moving. so many local people with billions who have stated interests in this team.
keep the team here = 1 billion
try to move the team = 1 billion to buy them, 1 billion for a new stadium, relocation fees and you’re at 2.5 billion at least.

The Bills will never end up in Toronto. Funny how things work out as many people in Toronto have ignored the Argonauts in the hope that the NFL will come to town. The reverse has happened as it now appears to the NFL that Toronto cannot support a professional football team. Looks like Toronto outsmarted itself. Both the CFL and NFL are great leagues. Leave things as they are.

It may be a “Rust Belt” city to outsiders…but it’s a beautiful place called home to some wealthy and powerful individuals…where just an hour drive east down the thruway is a lake, that is among the most expensive lake-front properties in the country. Golisano lives out there. Danny Wegman lives out there. Kenny Chesney has a house there. Just saying…

People around here have connections…and nobody wants to see that team be moved away from that community.

That’s not even talking about Donald Trump, Jeremy Jacobs and Terry Pegula.

And yes, Jacobs could own the Bills and keep the Bruins…look at Kroneke and his son owning the Rams and Avalanche. He also owns casinos, like Trump does…I know, I worked at a casino he owns here.

Being a long time Browns fan…..long suffering indeed Browns fan, … I hope that loyal Bills fans never have to experience the crushing pain that Cleveland felt when our Browns were moved to Baltimore. The Bills belong to Buffalo and only Buffalo.

It makes more sense to move teams already in California like the Chsrgers or Raiders than moving a historical northeast team with a dedicated fan base. Plus both teams have leases that expire sooner than the Bills and they have yet to resolve stadium issues. Move the Chargers to LA and let the Raiders share the new 49’ers stadium.

With all of the talk of tradition lets not forget the reason behind Wilson starting a franchise in Buffalo in the first place– the AFC wouldn’t allow him to start a team in Miami. He decided on Buffalo, his second choice, because he believed the town would support (give him money) the team. I would feel bad if the fans lost their team, but I fully understand why a new owner would want to relocate. Lets not forget that it has always been about money.

It nice seeing these Bills fans standing up for their franchise. How many of you actually buy season tickets or attend games? It’s going to take more than just civic pride. It’s going to take boosting attendance to keep the Bills in Buffalo. Same can be said for keeping the Jags in Jacksonville. Actual attendance and merchandise sales speaks volumes for owners and/or potential owners.

It’s still not impossible, just a mountain of hurdles and some impracticality but that’s only the case if one can’t figure out how to tone down the level of impracticality of trying to make that move before 2020.

Sorry to say they’re as good as gone, if its Toronto (big mistake), London or LA its happening. These fans have 6 years left of the nfl, no owner is paying 500mil to get out of this lease but who knows

I think back of Jim Kelly, Thurmon, Reid, and 4 championships!
It can happen again, and if the Bills continue to add good players, EJ Manual develops, the Pats would be playing from behind, Jets & Miami both
not funtional in there front office.
As a giants fan, Jim kelly and his team dam near got there 1st super-bowl, within 2 feet, no this team stays put!
CT GIANT

What Judge on earth is going to force a business to operate in a specific city? If a businessman wants to move his business, he is always allowed to. If he signed a lease, he will need to honor the lease or pay damages to the leaseholder to get out of it.

Buffalo is a dead city and despite the very nice people there, there is no good reason to keep a team there unless you feel it is the best possible area for your team to make money.

If Baltimore loses their team to another city with higher fan demand and a better deal….that’s just business. It has happened to us before. It will happen to other cities in the future.

No team was more a part of NFL history since 1950 than the Cleveland Browns, and no city had a more passionate fan base. Which mattered exactly 0 when they moved to Baltimore. Anyone who thinks a piece of paper or even the other 31 NFL owners can prevent an NFL owner in Buffalo or anywhere else from moving where he wants to move has been asleep the last 25 years.

Why is there even any talk of the Bills leaving Buffalo? They sell out all their games. They have an ironclad stadium lease. They are renovating the stadium and are talking about building a new one. Why is the media generating all this talk of the Bills leaving? This is totally irrational to me.

This kind of talk is generated by LA and NYC media. Just like baseball and basketball,when one of those towns want a player or franchise,they start these stories in a attempt to gain traction. LA,the second largest media market has lost TWO pro football teams and hasn’t shown interest for 19 years. They’re frontrunners on success. USC had a few down years,they jumped ship to UCLA,The Lakers are struggling,they jumped ship to the Clippers,The Dodgers struggled,the swam to the Angels and even forced a name change. No,the Bills aren’t moving. If the same product shows up in LA,after the one year honeymoon,the stadium would be empty.

@campcouch:
You obviously don’t live in LA and don’t have even the slightest clue about the sports in LA.
USC alumni and fans don’t “jump ship” to UCLA. Hardcore Laker fans don’t “jump ship” to become Clipper fans. Longtime Dodger fans haven’t “swam” to the Angels and the fans had nothing to do with them becoming The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Your post is ludicrous and only exposes your total and complete ignorance of the Southern Cali sports scene.

You know..? I don’t get it. I read this piece with Buffalo fans blaming the NFL and rich people. That’s a bunch of crap. When you buy a home, do you allow anyone to tell you who you invite inside..? If you buy a boat, are you going to allow someone to tell you where you can use it..? Whomever buys the Bills… OWNS them. If you want to keep the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo it’s INCREDIBLY simple. Vote for politicians who will allocate the funds to build a new stadium. OR at the VERY LEAST, bring the one you have out of the 1970’s and 80’s into the 21st century… I’ve been to Ralf Wilson… It’s a dump. There is no reason the owner should keep a team in a city that will not step up to the plate and provide a world class venue (or at LEAST a USA Class venue) for one of the most desired products there is. The politicians in Florida are already working on legislation to completely remodel “Sun Life” Stadium. They OPENED Sun Life in 1986 and this will be the 3RD remodel while you team has only done minor upgrades in 40 years. The Jests have new digs, so do the Patsy’s, 49’ers, Cardinals, Bucks, Cowboys, Steelers, Philly, Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Denver & Seattle. And they have completely reworked Miami (in 2001) New Orleans, Chicago, Cincy & Lambaeu. And Minnesota will have a new joint in a few years. Teams like Oakland, St. Louis, San Diego and Buffalo are all on thin ice with their franchises because there is no reciprocation in TANGIBLE loyalty. AKA A New Stadium or completely remodeled effort… …. Want to keep you team..? Lip service about fan loyalties and “historic president” is just that… “LIP SERVICE”…. You have a City that has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel…. Moving the Bills “at this point” isn’t anything to do with greedy NFL or owners”… It’s just good business… Buffalo has EVERY OPPORTUNITY to turn that around in the next several years… do you want your team to stay put..? Make certain the way you vote matches what you want… If you don’t… They’ll be gone and rightfully so.

I bleed Orange and Brown. I am a long-suffering and life-long Browns fan. Aside from the near misses of two AFC Championship game losses to the Denver Broncos, there is no greater pain than having your beloved team ripped from your home in the cover of darkness. No one could have ever predicted that the NFL would ever allow a team to be moved from such a loyal and passionate fan base.

If the NFL was willing to allow the Colts to leave Baltimore for Indy and the Browns to Baltimore (a four-year gap of no Browns) to be renamed the Ravens, it could happen to ANY team. BTW: Keeping the name, former titles and history is small victory. However, seeing the Ravens win two Superbowls is only reopening old wounds.